The Week December 12-18

• Share

(2 of 3)

Russians voted on a new constitution and elected a new parliament. The constitution, which gives President Boris Yeltsin strong new powers, passed with 58% of the vote. In party-preference voting for the parliament, however, the ultra-reactionary Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, won a stunning 23.5% of the vote, while the pro-Yeltsin Russia's Choice Party trailed in second place with 14.8%; the Communists ran a close third with 13.3%. Zhirinovsky has said he would like to restore Russia's 19th century borders, when the empire included both Finland and Alaska. Fortunately for the reformers, only half the seats in the lower house of parliament are allocated according to votes for parties, and many individual Russia's Choice candidates won their districts. So, while it will not have a majority, Russia's Choice Party will form the largest bloc in the Duma. It is still unclear what coalitions may be formed.

Finally, GATT

After seven years of talks, 117 nations approved a new trade pact acclaimed as the most comprehensive in history. The latest version of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will wholly or partly eliminate national tariffs, subsidies, quotas and other forms of protectionism for dozens of industries. To reach the accord, the U.S. and Europe deferred resolving their differences over film and television markets and aircraft manufacturing.

A Plan for Irish Peace

Prime Ministers John Major of Britain and Albert Reynolds of Ireland announced a "framework for peace" for Northern Ireland. The product of two years of diplomacy, the plan calls for the people of Northern Ireland to eventually decide their fate: whether they willremain part of Britain or join the Irish Republic. If the Irish Republican Army forswears violence for three months, its political wing will be offered a place at the bargaining table.

Israel, P.L.O. Miss Deadline

Israel and the P.L.O. failed last Monday to meet a target date for completing an accord that was to have brought about the beginning of an Israeli troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area of the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin hinted that there could be further delays in the introduction of Palestinian self-rule in those areas. Meanwhile, Israel opened its borders to the last of 415 Palestinians banished to a no-man's-land in southern Lebanon one year ago.

Nobel Bickering

After picking up their joint Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, South African President F.W. de Klerk and African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela fell to bickering. De Klerk accused Mandela's supporters of showing "a lack of sensitivity" and "bad manners" at the ceremony.

BUSINESS

Going Once, Going Twice

Its anti-takeover measures having been invalidated by the Delaware courts, Paramount Communications put itself up for auction. Rivals QVC and Viacom, which have been fighting for three months to acquire Paramount, were to make their bids this Monday, along with any other interested parties that happen to have $10 billion or so to spare.

Employees May Buy United